Combined nose block and stud element



April 21, 1953 D. l. REITER 2,635,739

COMBINED NOSE BLOCK AND STUD ELEMENT Filed April 27, 1949 9- A? 9- A? /////////////////////(4//; f 43 43 l/V VE N T 0R Daniel Z Heifer Jew M A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 21, 1953 COMBINED NOSE BLOCK AND STUD Daniel I. Reiter, New York, N; Y.

Application April 27, 1949, Serlal No. 89,951

Claims. (01. 2065) V This invention relates tocombined supports and snap fastener stud elements and particularly to. that type of. support adapted'ior use as a nose block inspectacle cases.

The invention contemplates the provision of a. tubular metallic member suitably shaped to engage the nose pads of a pair of eye glasses or. spectacles and having an integral hollow terminalportion constituting either the securing member of 'asnapfastener stud or itself constituting the stud.

The invention further contemplates the provision. of arelatively inexpensive combined one piece spacer, nose block and stud element or stud, adapted to be quickly and easily assembled 'with the usual stiffening spring and flexible wall Ofa leather or the like spectacle case, and adaptedalso for economical manufacture and assembly.

The. invention further contemplates the provision of a durable nose block terminating in an integral snap fastener element and of means for of a typical'spectacle case to which the invention has been applied, the front and rear walls of. the case. having been broken away to show oneform of the stiffening spring and the combined nose block and stud element.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the case shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional vview of. the case shown in Fig. 1 taken on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the flexible flap on the rear wall of the case foreshortened and provided with alsnap fastener socket.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view. partly in section, of that form of the combined nose block and stud element shown in Figs. 1+3, but showing amodified form of the spring loop for holding the nose. block in place and showing the peripheral flange turned inwardly instead of outwardly.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modified form of thenose block and of the spring showing the rotation-preventing prongs on the end wall of the block.

Fig. 6' is a similar view of another modified form of thenose block and of the spring show- V have entered the flexible sheet to prevent Fig; -7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale of that form ofthe nose block which terminates in a distortable eyelet as the stud element, showing the first step in assembling the block and stud to-a sheet.

Fig. 8 is a similar view thereof but showing-the stud and nose block in their assembled positions wherein they have been forced together with the sheet therebetween and the eyelet dis-- torted.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a modified formofthe nose block similar to Fig. 5 wherein the prongs relative rotation of the block'and sheet. a

Fig. 10 is a similar view of a still further modifled form of the nose block'wherein the terminal stud is made in one piece with the'remainder of the block; showing the block' as it appears arranged in a case preparatory" to being secured to the front wall of the case.

Fig. 11 is a similarview thereof after a weakened intermediate'part of the block has been compressed and distorted'tosecure the block to the case.

It will be understood that the'tubular' body portion of the noseblock may take a variety of different 'crosssectional forms such as circular, elliptical, generally triangular or polygonal, that the body portion may terminate in an eyelet as shown in Figs; 3 9 orin' apartial eyelet combined with an integral stud as 'shownin Figs; 10 and fl, and that it is intended to be secured in any one of a number of different ways to the stiffening spring customarily employed in flexible spectacle cases;

In detail and referring to that practical embodiment of the invention shownin Figs. l'-3, the pliable spectacle case It, preferably of leather or the like; isof the type provided witha flexible front wall or panel II, a similar rear wall or panel l2 having'an extension constituting a-fiap Ii, carrying the snap fastener socket IT and a stiifeningspring as It of strip material arranged adjacent thestitching 15 which secures together the lower edges and the adjacent side edges ofthe 'wa'lls' II and I 2, the top and the-upper parts of thesides of the casejbeing left open for the insertion thereinto and removal therefrom of the spectacles: To hold the spectacles against dislocation within the case, the preferably metallic one piece nose block member [6 is employed. Said member is in the form of a combined support and fastener element and replaces the wooden block and the driven fastener for the stud'associatedtherewith'as heretofore employed 'foraslmilarpurpose; The member [6 i519 cured to the front wall II and extends laterally of the case to the rear wall, being in contact with the rear wall but not ordinarily secured thereto, the member being also supported by suitable means on the spring l4 against shifting. To close the open top of the case, the flap i3 is folded down from the position thereof shown in Fig. Bto a position in front of the front wall H, and the socket l! is snapped on to the stud l8, the latter being secured to the wall I l by the eyelet i8 of the member it.

The main body portion of said member l6 constituting the support, is of tubular shape, of uniform cross section partly closed at its front end by the preferably flat annular end wall 28 from the central part of and beyond whichvprojects the integral distortable and smaller eyelet l9 adapted to enter the interior of the stud IB and to be distorted by widening and spreading as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8 enough to prevent separation of the parts as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The eyelet I9 has a di-' ameter preferably a minor fraction of the diameter of the member it, the wall 20 integrally joining the eyelet and the member and being bounded at its outer edge by a convex fillet and at its inner edge by a concave fillet. The rear end of the member I6 is preferably open and is surrounded by a flat annular peripheral flange 2| parallel to the end wall 26 and shownin Figs. 1-3 as turned outwardly and in Fig. 4 as inturned at 22 and in either case normally engaging but not necessarily secured to the front face of the rear wall 12.

To prevent the member 16 from moving undesirably relatively to the rear wall or up or down when the flexible case is handled, means in addition to the eyelet are provided to support said member.

of the spring l4, said bend having opposed upstanding parts 24 extending upwardly from the flat part of the spring to a point above the axis entrant part 25 fitted to the under side of the member and on which said member rests. The member may, if desired, be secured as by spot- As shown, said means comprises a suitable bend as 23 at about the middle part of the member l6 and an upwardly concave rewelding to the part 25 thereby to prevent forward and rearward sliding thereof, in which case the height of the parts 24 may be considerably reduced, as shown for example in Fig. 5. It will be understood that by reason of the curvature thereof, when the parts 24 extend above the axis of the member 16, upward movement of the member relatively to the spring is prevented in addition to the prevention of downward movement.

Another way to secure the member 16 to the spring is by the use of suitable prongs as 23 (Fig. 6) cut from the material of said member and passed through slots as 21 in the adjacent part of the spring and then clinched over. Or

the spring may be bent to form a loop convex upwardly as at 28, Fig. 4, to pass over the top of the support member, the opposed parts 29, 30

converging downwardly and preventing downward movement of the member.

As has been indicated, the body portion of the member IE serves as a nose block to enter the. space between and to engage the usual nose pads v [8, the front wall of the case being arranged between the end wall 20 of the support member and the flange 32 of the stud as shown in Fig. 7. The parts are then firmly secured together and interlocked by pressing them toward each other while on opposite sides of the wall I I, whereby the sufliciently thin eyelet I9 is compressed beyond its elastic limit and spreads, shortens and becomes so distorted by the stud when it enters the wider part of and engages the wall of the stud as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, that movement of the stud relatively to the support member is prevented, the material of the wall 1 I being compressed between the end wall 20 and the flange 32 asthe eyelet shortens.

Where the cross sectional shape of the support body is other than circular and rotational movement thereof is undesirable, such movement is prevented by means of suitable prongs 33 cut and projecting from the end wall 20 or 34 of the support member such as the elliptical member 35 (Fig. 5) and'arranged to pierce the flexible material of the wall ll of the case as shown in Fig. 9. In connection with the elliptical form of the nose block member 35, the rear flange is shown as turned inwardly, and the bend in the spring 14 is shown to consist of the upstanding spaced parts as, 31 joined by the upwardly concave part 38 fitted to the lower portion only of the member and if desired, spot-welded thereto. It will be understood however, that the same form of bend in the spring may be used in connection with any other cross sectional shape of the nose block and that the peripheral flange may be turned outwardly if desired. In Fig. 6, the end flange 4B is shown as turned outwardly and the cross sectional shape of the nose block member is generally triangular. Consequently, the upper part 4| of the bend in the spring 14 may be flat as shown and if desired spot-welded to the adjacent flat side of the member instead of being secured thereto by the prongs or tongues and slots shown. The sides 36 and 31 of the bend remain similar to those shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as does the eyelet 19. In' all of the forms of the nose block, the side walls or lateral surface of the body portion; as shown, is continuous and uninterrupted and free of joints, laps, seams or side edges, except that in Fig. 6, holes are formed in the side walls where the prongs 26 are cut therefrom. The cross section of the continuous side wall is therefore a complete circle, ellipse or polygon subtending an angle of360.

For still greater economy in manufacturing and assembling the nose block member, it may be made entirely in one piece with the stud. In that case, the eyelet I9 is enlarged at that inner portion thereof where it joins the end wall, and its outer portion is shaped to form a stud as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. There, the tubular body portion :2 is also of uniform cross sectional shape. It may be of any of the shapes hereinbefore described and terminates in a peripheral flange 43 parallel to the end wall 44 as in the forms shown in Figs, 1-9. However, the tubular part 45 constituting a distortable eyelet of uniform cross sectional shape is preferably of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the stud 46 to form the flange or shoulder 41 constituting the flange of the stud and arranged on the end of the eyelet part 45 parallel to the annular end wall 44 and to the flange 43. The eyelet part 45 is weakened as by a series of parallel 1ongitudinal .slots or slits 48 therethrough and arranged to ex- -tend between the wall 44 and the flange 41. A

hole 49 of about or slightly less than the diameter of the eyelet 45 is made in the wall II and the stud 46 and eyelet 45 pass therethrough as'shown in Fig. 10. By means of suitable tools, the wall 44 and flange 41 are pressed toward each other to collapse the thin weakened eyelet, the slits of which spread and permit the eyelet to flatten out substantially as shown in Fig. 11 thereby to form a widened shoulder 50 from the material of the eyelet and flange 41 and to clinch the nose block member to the front wall ll of the case.

It will be seen that the member may be economically made and assembled with a minimum 7 number of parts and operations, that it is strong and durable and may be made in a variety of forms and fastened in place in a number of different ways and hence is adapted for a wide range of supporting purposes where a stud is required,

and adequately meets the severe requirements of practical use.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have herein been shown and described, it will be understood that various obvious changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a sheet of material, a combined one piece support and stud element of a single piece of sheet metal and having a tubular body portion open at one end, an annular peripheral flange at said end, an annular end wall partly closing the other end of the body portion to decrease the open diameter of said other end to a diameter less than that of said one open end, said end wall being in substantially parallel spaced relation to the flange, and a hollow eyelet portion projecting axially from the inner periphery of the end wall and integral therewith and of lesser diameter than the body portion and adapted to pass through the sheet of material and to be distorted to secure the support to the sheet with the annular wall in pressed contact with the inner face of the sheet, the body portion being shaped to form a nose block and means including pointed prongs projecting from the end wall of the element and entering the sheet and thereby securing the support to the sheet against rotationa1 displacement.

2. In a flexible spectacle case having a front wall and a rear wall of flexible sheet material and a stiffening spring having a substantially flat part arranged in and along an edge of the case, the case having a closing flap on the rear wall carrying a snap fastener socket, a one-piece sheet metal nose block member in transverse spaced relation to and arranged above the flat part of the spring and comprising a tubular body portion of uniform cross sectional shape open at one end and having a substantially fiat wall at the other end, a peripheral flange parallel to the flat wall at the open end of the body portion, a tubular eyelet of lesser diameter than the body portion projecting longitudinally from the central part of and integral with the inner periphery of the flat wall and sufiiciently thin to permit spreading distortion thereof under compression, the flat wall of the member being arranged at and in pressed contact with the rear face of the front wall of the case and the eyelet initially passing completely through and beyond the front wall, and a stud having a flange initially spaced forwardly of the front wall and arranged at and relatively close to the other face of the front wall on the compressive distortion of the eyelet to compress the front wall of the case between the stud flange and the flat wall of the member, the stud having an operative connection with the front end portion of the eyelet.

3. The device of claim 2, the spring having an upwardly projecting bend at the middle part thereof engaging and supporting the nose block member in upward spaced relation to the flat part of the spring.

4. The device of claim 3, the flange of the stud constituting an integral end wall of the eyelet substantially parallel to the flat wall of the body portion, the member and the stud being of a single piece of material.

5. The device of claim 3, the front end portion of the eyelet entering the stud and being distorted thereby.

DANJEL I. REITER.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 602,025 White Apr. 5, 1898 1,598,691 Powell Sept. 7, 1926 1,753,054 Marshutz et a1. Apr. 1, 1930 1,829,736 Christman Nov. 3, 1931 1,891,233 Lachter Dec. 20, 1932 2,272,252 Sponsel Feb. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 858,581 France May 13, 1940 

